Shiv Sena calls Azam Khan a traitor, demands his resignation

The Shiv Sena in its mouthpiece 'Saamana' criticised Uttar Pradesh minister and Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan for writing a letter to the United Nations against the Centre and raising the issue of pathetic living condition of Muslims in India.

"If (SP Chief) Mulayam Singh Yadav has any patriotism left in him, he will kick Azam Khan out from all posts and make him sit at home. This UP minister (Khan) has committed all sort of crimes...everything has been tolerated in the extremist politics of the state. But now, this man has shred the country's respect into pieces at a global level," the Sena said in an edit in party mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

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It said while politicians made a beeline to visit Dadri, where a 50-year-old Muslim man was lynched on rumours of his family eating beef last week, nobody even spoke a word about the hundreds of Indian Muslims recently killed in a stampede at Saudi Arabia.

"This is because it didn't suit their vote-bank politics. A ruckus has been created on the questionable death of a man in Dadri. People are criticising the BJP when investigation into the incident is yet to be completed," it said.

The 'Saamana' piece even called Azam Khan 'deshdrohi' for his act and said that Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav should ask for his resignation.

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Referring to the recent lynching incident, 'Saamana' in its latest article said, the Uttar Pradesh government is responsible for the Dadri violence. "It seems that Azam Khan is a mentally retarded man. Dadri lies within boundaries of UP. The government there is inefficient thus such incidents take place. Law and order has gone for a toss there. If Azam Khan is saddened by this episode, he should resign from his ministerial position," the Sena added.

"Azam Khan's letter to the UN is disservice to the nation. Thus, he does not have the right to hold any constitutional post now. The Election Commission should not let him contest any further elections. Mulayam Singh Yadav's patriotism is at stake now," the Sena said.

Earlier, Azam Khan had also sought time from United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to register his complaint against the BJP led NDA government.

The Samajwadi Party leader later said he would rethink about meeting the UN secretary general if Prime Minister Narendra Modi assures him that Muslims would be protected in India. "I may change my plan to meet the UN secretary general if the Badshah (king) of the country gives an assurance to us that the Muslims would be protected," he said.

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Controversial AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi had also lashed out at Azam Khan for taking Dadri killing issue to the United Nations. "Azam has committed a blunder by taking up India's internal issue with the UN. It is supposed to be solved within the country," Owaisi said.

Amid outcry over the lynching of a 50-year-old man in Dadri, senior Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan on Monday sought intervention by the United Nations to look into the miseries of the minorities in India.